Become a Teacher
in Florida

All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. The Florida Department of Education has information on prerequisite coursework for over 40 different subjects . Here are Florida's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:

• Elementary Education:
  • Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with a major in elementary education which includes teaching reading at the K-6 level, or
  • Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in elementary education to include the areas specified below: (a) Courses in teaching reading in grades K-6 to include each of the following: 1. Understanding the reading process and effective reading instruction, 2. Recognition and assessment of reading problems, and 3. Prescription and utilization of appropriate methods and materials to increase reading performance; and (b) Courses in each of the areas specified below: 1. Content and methods for teaching writing and language arts in grades K-6, 2. Content and methods for teaching science for grades K-6, 3. Content and methods for teaching social science for grades K-6, 4. Content and methods for teaching health education and physical education for grades K-6, 5. Content and methods for teaching art for grades K-6, 6. Content and methods for teaching music for grades K-6, 7. Content and methods for teaching mathematics for grades K-6, and 8. Materials for use in grades K-6 such as children's literature, multi-media materials, library materials, and the computer as an instructional tool.
• Secondary English/Language Arts:
  • Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with an undergraduate or graduate major in English, or
  • Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in English to include the areas specified below: (a) Credit in English composition and grammar beyond freshman English, (b) Credit in speech or oral interpretation, and (c) Fifteen (15) semester hours in literature.
• Secondary Mathematics:
  • Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with an undergraduate or graduate major in mathematics,
  • Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in mathematics to include the areas specified below: (a) Six (6) semester hours in calculus, (b) Credit in geometry, (c) Credit in probability or statistics, and (d) Credit in abstract or linear algebra,
  • Plan Three: A bachelor's or higher degree with specialization requirements completed for physics and twenty-one (21) semester hours in mathematics to include the areas specified below: (a) Six (6) semester hours in calculus, (b) Credit in geometry, (c) Credit in probability or statistics, and (d) Credit in abstract or linear algebra.
• Secondary History/Social Science:
  • Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with a major in social science, social studies, history, political science, geography, sociology, economics, or psychology.
  • Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in social science or social studies to include: (a) Six (6) semester hours in United States history, (b) Courses in the areas specified below: 1. Western civilization or European history, 2. Asian, African, Latin American, or Middle Eastern history, 3. Economics, 4. United States federal government, 5. Geography, and 6. Sociology or psychology.
• Secondary Science:
  • Specialization requirements for biology: Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with an undergraduate or graduate major in biology, or Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in science, to include twenty-one (21) semester hours in biological science with associated laboratory experiences, or Plan Three: A bachelor's or higher degree with specialization requirements completed for chemistry, earth-space science, or physics and eighteen (18) semester hours in biological science.
  • Specialization requirements for chemistry. Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with an undergraduate or graduate major in chemistry, or Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in science to include twenty-one (21) semester hours in chemistry with associated laboratory experiences, or Plan Three: A bachelor's or higher degree with specialization requirements completed for biology, earth-space science, or physics and eighteen (18) semester hours in chemistry.
  • Specialization requirements for earth-space science. Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with an undergraduate or graduate major in earth-space science or earth science, or Plan Two: A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours in science to include twenty-one (21) semester hours in earth-space science or earth science with associated laboratory experiences, or Plan Three: A bachelor's or higher degree with specialization requirements completed for biology, chemistry, or physics and eighteen (18) semester hours in earth-space science or earth science.
  • Specialization requirements for physics. Plan One: A bachelor's or higher degree with an undergraduate or graduate major in physics, or Plan Two:. A bachelor's or higher degree with thirty (30) semester hours to include twenty-one (21) semester hours in physics with associated laboratory experiences, or Plan Three: A bachelor's or higher degree with specialization requirements completed for biology, chemistry, or earth-space science and eighteen (18) semester hours in physics.

Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program. The Florida Department of Education endorses a variety of teacher preparation programs, including Education Preparation Institutes, certification programs run at select colleges and universities. Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship. While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to the State of Florida, visit our Florida Teacher Scholarships page.

In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skills Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction. A Professional Education Test is also available for prospective teachers who already specialize in a field, or who are planning to switch from a current career other than education. Professional Skills Test:

• FTCE (Florida Teacher Certification Examinations): Florida Professional Education Test

• Florida Department of Education
• Florida Teacher Tenure
• Troops to Teachers Florida: In Florida, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Florida and Caribbean Region Office